Honda applies the special edition treatment to the CR-V, it’s available in Black or White and is a series of cosmetic and equipment upgrades. The Black and White Editions actually save you £770 pounds over the  SE-T model which ostensibly has the same levels of interior kit. The value lies in a bit of extra street cred So what does the Black Edition have that makes it so special? Most of the changes pertain to the exterior which adds a bit of visual flair to the CR-V’s SUV attitude. The Black Edition rides on 19-inch Orion alloy wheels with front and rear skid plates. Running boards are integrated under the door sills, the front grille receives a new patterned design and a roof-mounted rear spoiler completes the special edition touch. With these cool features, special edition owners do not have to worry about aftermarket modifications or upgrades to stance-out, which means they can finally do away with having to drive around wearing a paper bag over their heads. The interior receives little attention, no Black Edition emblems, no contrast stitching not even any leather seats. You do get a decent level of equipment which includes electric door mirrors, front and rear parking, dual climate control, Sat-Nav, and Bluetooth. Also included is the usual equipment such as cruise control, air-con and a decent sound system.

“So what does the Black Edition have that makes it so special? Most of the changes are pertained to the exterior and adds a bit of visual flair to the CR-Vs SUV attitude.”

The new touchscreen infotainment system is easy to operate but it looks like an aftermarket addition and the Sat-Nav could do with an improved UI and a faster processor so that the menu and sub-menus update quicker when on the move. The CR-V’s interior is a pleasant environment, it’s well made, lots of room for all sizes, passengers front and rear, plenty of storage and cubby holes and its all robustly put together. The rear seats are specifically practical and can fold flat by either pulling a cord lever at the side of the seat or by pulling a door handle which is located on either side of the rear loading bay, just above the rear wheel arch. The load space of 589-litres with the seats up is usefully big and increases too 1,669-litres with the seats down, this will win plenty of friends for its practicality and ease of use.

“Road manners are mixed, the suspension is stiff and therefore the low speed ride is harsh, at around 30-40mph the CR-V Black Edition tends to tread like its walking over shards of glass.”

The CR-V Black Edition is available in 4WD and comes with a choice of two engines, the 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol or the 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel either in 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. The 2.2-litre i-DTEC is strong and punchy and loses little value and therefore power (155bhp) when mated to a five-speed automatic. The torque-converter automatic is smooth and swift in its functionality, the addition of paddle shift levers give an impression of sporting flavor but I very rarely engaged their use. If you like acceleration than progress feels adequately swift although the manual version is around one second quicker too 0-60mph. Fuel economy is good, 37.4mpg on a combined run good. Road manners are mixed, the suspension is stiff and therefore the low-speed ride is harsh. At around 30-40mph the CR-V Black Edition tends to tread like its walking over shards of glass. Things get better when up to motorway speeds the ride is more forgiving and dare I say it, comfortable. The seats could do with a little more comfort, its OK for short journeys but over longer hauls the seats tend to relay manageable discomfort. And those 19-inch alloys do tend to increase the interior noise ambiance but the difference is minimal and those alloys do give an otherwise dull exterior a bit of a visual boost. However, the handling is spot on for a vehicle of this size and class, giving dimensions is boring at times so let’s just say its bigger than a Nissan Qashqai and smaller than a Land Rover Discovery. There is minimal roll when entering a corner which allows you to throw the CR-V into bends where it remains stable and consistent. Even the most narrow and twisty country lanes are passable without making you break into a white-knuckle ride sweat, the CR-V Black Edition gives you the confidence to attack corners. The steering provides adequate levels of feedback and the 4WD provides plenty of grip even in damp or wet conditions, all in all it’s a spritely drive. Prices start at £28k for the entry-level petrol Black Edition with a manual gearbox, the CR-V Black Edition Automatic on test comes in at £32k. Overall the Black Edition appears to have minimal changes over a standard CR-V. But if you want drug dealer styling cues crossed with hypocritical middle-class values, and let’s be honest the two do exist, then the CRV Black Edition is just such a vehicle for recreational substance abusers., such as teachers and university lecturers.